Rescue crew still searching Mississippi River for swimmer

A man who was having difficulty swimming in the Mississippi River on Saturday has not been located, according to the Cape Gir­ar­deau Fire Department.

The man was on a sandbar in the middle of the river north of Tower Rock in the Perry County area when he struggled to stay above water at about 3 p.m., according to Capt. Brad Dillow. The man, about 45 years old, was with his girlfriend during the incident, he said.

The Perry County sheriff and fire departments were the lead agencies coordinating a search, Dillow said, and the Missouri State Water Patrol was called to the scene. The search will continue today if the man isn't found, Dillow said.

The Perry County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Water Patrol had no further information.